Ancient kingdom situated in modern Iran. The Persian king, Cyrus the Great, overthrew the Babylonian kingdom and annexed most of western Asia, creating the largest empire then known. His son, Cambyses, conquered Egypt in 525 BC and added it to the empire. Persian rule in Egypt was unpopular, and the Persians were later accused of neglecting Egyptian religion and withdrawing temple privileges. The Persian governor or satrap was usually a member of the royal family. The Persians were expelled by Amyrtaeos in 404 BC. In 343 BC, the Persian king Artaxerxes III reconquered Egypt, driving out the last native ruler, Nakhthorheb.Alexanderthe Great put an end to Persian rule in 332 BC and was welcomed as a liberator by the Egyptians.
See also Achaemenes; Arsames; Artaxerxes I; Artaxerxes II; Artaxerxes III; Bagoas; Darius I; Darius II; Xerxes I.
Historical Dictionary Of Ancient Egypt by Morris L. Bierbrier
Ancient Egypt. A Reference Guide. EdwART. 2011.